Need clarification on starter stips in supers ~

Flygirl · June 25, 2008, 07:08:22 PM

Hi All ~

I'm using starter strips in my supers so I can do the crush & drain method of harvest. I have a drawn out frame in the center for a guide. My super has the 9 bar spacer ~ so 8 frames with starter strips & one in the center with drawn comb.

In an earlier posting I noticed that someone said this could cause the bees to build bridges between the frames? Am I understanding that correctly? So I made a mistake in setting up my supers?

Should I transfer the frames to another super with out the spacers & put in 10 frames to allow more evenly drawn out comb? Or is this OK? I thought the 9 frames allowed for thicker comb & more honey? I have more equipment so I could change it out tomorrow if I need to. I don't want to create a mess!

Thanks for your help! FG

Jerrymac · June 25, 2008, 07:20:09 PM

I have never done it but I understand you need to go with ten frames until they are drawn out and then switch them to the nine frame arrangement.

bassman1977 · June 25, 2008, 07:21:25 PM

Have the bees draw the comb out in a box of 10 frames first. Once they do that, then drop to the 9 frames. They will draw the thicker comb.

Flygirl · June 25, 2008, 07:27:37 PM

OK ~ Thanks you guys for the quick reply. That's what I thought after re-reading some old posts. I just put the supers on on Sunday so hopefully it won't be too much of a mess & I'll be able to add the 10 frame.

If the wax bridged I guess it's OK to trim it back to make them all fit with the proper space?

After thinking about what I did I had this vision of one big 9 frame block of comb....was keeping me awake at night! FG :)

bassman1977 · June 25, 2008, 08:42:33 PM

QuoteI just put the supers on on Sunday so hopefully it won't be too much of a mess & I'll be able to add the 10 frame.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

QuoteIf the wax bridged I guess it's OK to trim it back to make them all fit with the proper space?

Yeah, they will fix whatever you "damage".

QuoteAfter thinking about what I did I had this vision of one big 9 frame block of comb

In one of my hives, I must have missed a frame somewhere. Where frame 1 or 10 should be (depending on your perspective) they built up a mess. Ah well....I'll get it one day.

Quotewas keeping me awake at night!

Not cool :-(

Jerrymac · June 25, 2008, 08:59:35 PM

I don't think they have had time to make too big a mess.

Michael Bush · July 03, 2008, 11:14:31 PM

>In an earlier posting I noticed that someone said this could cause the bees to build bridges between the frames? Am I understanding that correctly? So I made a mistake in setting up my supers?

The only purpose in 9 frames is to get thicker comb that is easier to uncap. They will be more likely to drawn the comb correctly at ten frames than nine, but they will probably do fine either way.

>Should I transfer the frames to another super with out the spacers & put in 10 frames to allow more evenly drawn out comb?

If you have that option, it's a good one.

>I thought the 9 frames allowed for thicker comb & more honey?

Not more honey, just easier uncapping. Since you're planning on crush and strain, uncapping is irrelevant.

Flygirl · July 04, 2008, 01:37:12 AM

Thanks for the reply Michael ~

I did put all 9 frames back into a medium box & add another one for a total of 10. Thanks for the clarification that's it's OK to leave it at nine too. I was worried that they wouldn't draw the comb out straight & I'd have a big mess. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I want to do everything correctly at least the first few years while my learning curve is steep :)

I have a queen excluder on & they are being slow to move-up. I need to review the other thread on removing the queen excluder. I put them on but now I think I may take them off ~ my bees have been very forgiving of my lack of skills.

Flygirl

Robo · July 04, 2008, 07:51:46 AM

Quote from: Flygirl on July 04, 2008, 01:37:12 AM
I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I want to do everything correctly at least the first few years while my learning curve is steep :)

Then your not going to do well with starter strips as you will encounter issues. I think you will find they will overdraw the frame of drawn comb you gave them as a guide and this will cause your first issue.

Quote
I have a queen excluder on & they are being slow to move-up. I need to review the other thread on removing the queen excluder. I put them on but now I think I may take them off ~ my bees have been very forgiving of my lack of skills.

Yes, you must remove the excluder otherwise they will not do anything with the super. There need to be something on the other side of an excluder to coax them through like nectar or brood.

rob...